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    Bracken Bat Cave

    4.8 (25 reviews)

    Bracken Bat Cave Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Bracken Bat Cave

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    Dayna E.

    Had an amazing experience and was given great information! Definitely recommend to take the tour it if you are in town! It's a view you don't see everyday and one well worth checking out.

    At the viewing site
    Jaymie-Lyn D.

    FIRST TIME VISIT! THE DEAL: I have always been fascinated with bats and decided it was time I saw them in their natural habitat. I went online to BCI's website to look up viewing dates. It costs $30 per person but if you pay $60 to join their annual membership club, you get 6 passes to one date. I happily join the club and 5 of us head out to a warm evening of bat-watching. We went at the very end of July since that is when the millions of babies begin to take flight with their mommies. GETTING THERE: if you're familiar with the Natural Bridge Caverns, BCI's discreet driveway is just a hop away from the NBC's entryway. Be sure to look for a small sign placed outside! Once you drive beyond the gate and up the dirt road, we were greeted with a volunteer who checked us off a list and were told to drive further up the road to the Pavilion. THE EXPERIENCE: A ways up the road, we find more volunteers who ask us to park and sit at the pavilion for a Bat Talk given by a docent. So fascinating! We learned about the Bracken Cave which houses the bats we would later see, the history of the property and what conservationists within BCI were doing to help ensure a long future for these creatures, especially right here in Texas! Being surrounded by nature, and by these friendly BCI folks, was the perfect preface to a visual and very "batty" treat. We are directed to a viewing site which is situated above and directly in front of the mouth of a cave. We literally have front row seats! Millions of Mexican Free-Tailed Bats emerge in groups slowly, by forming a tornado-like body called a "bat-nado" allowing the bats to systematically leave the cave for a dusk time feeding. There were about 3 groups total and it's a couple of hours from beginning to end. The smell of ammonia can be rough if your nose is hypersensitive, especially when that bat-nado starts swirling air from within the cave up and out. The scene is beautiful to behold, but can be tragic for some that might fall to the rocks below. The bats have many prey and a family of omnivorous and very hungry skunks were anxiously anticipating a meal just beyond the mouth of the cave. A hawk tries picking one off midair as they flit to and fro in search of food. Beetles cover the floor of the cave and devour these winged mammals, reducing them to mere skeletons within a few short minutes! Nature is brutal, guys! But oh, so amazing. Bench seating, no food or drink available, wildlife all around, the occasional snake, too, Rocky, dusty terrain. All are welcome, but they do discourage bringing small children due to the natural landscape we are entering into. Noise is also frowned upon, even speaking can cause confusion for the bats during their ascent, so please whisper if necessary. The volunteers of BCI love what they do and it shows in how knowledgeable they are and how much they enjoy sharing what they know with the public. Kudos to them on a job well done! We were mesmerized and didn't know what to expect as the BCI website doesn't give away all of the details in photo. I'm met wait till our visit next year. Anxious to see how we can continue to help these magnificent animals. Hope you do, too!

    Chris H.

    Wow!!! If you are looking for an experience this is the place to go!!! My daughter loves bats so when I saw this place I knew we had to check it out. Believe me, I am soooo glad I did. It was something I will never forget. We ordered the tickets on line. Just type in 2023 Bracken cave preserve public bat flights and I'm sure you'll find the right site. I remember we ordered the tickets through event Brite. They are around 30 bucks apiece but again it was completely worth it. After we order the tickets, we waited a little bit and a couple of days before we got a wonderful email the totals the instructions for that night. Make sure you look out for the email. It's very helpful. We got there about 7 o'clock and then we were given an estimate of when the bats would be leaving the cave. And we were also told that they were given a class at 7:45. To waste time, we kind of walked around on a little trail that they have, we took some pictures, and we also went to see things we went to see the shaft and at the shaft they had a person there that gave us a lot of helpful information. Then we went to see the actual cave where the bats would be flying out of. What's complete with all that we went to a little covered pavilion where they gave us a lesson on the bats. There was a lot of cool information that they shared. After they educated us on the bats, we went to the viewing area and waited to the estimated time. One thing I heard was, this is the biggest M Bat colony in the world. When you see them coming out, you will believe it. I come out fast and there's a lot of them. It is really cool and I have never experienced anything like it in my life. They actually were probably about 4-5 feet from us at times. I will be going again. As soon as I can I would highly recommend you go. I am amazed that more people do not know about this place, I've heard about how Austin has bats under a bridge. But From what I understand that pales in comparison to this cave. I believe this is a gem right here near San Antonio, Texas and if you're from this area you need to visit. They mentioned that people come from all over the world to watch these bats, I completely understand why. The bats are only here in the summer, and then I believe they migrate to Mexico in the winter. When I went, there was only about 30 to 35 people in attendance and I believe that's probably about all they can hold, but it made it very nice because it wasn't crowded. If you get the opportunity, I cannot stress enough how great it is and how happy you will be that you went. However, if you don't like, birds are bats, maybe it's not a good idea lol.

    The bats come out at different times. today it was at 730.
    Kelly S.

    This bat cave has 15 - 20 million bats. In comparison, the congress ave bridge has 3 million. That my friends, is a LOT of bats. I wasn't sure what I was in for. Bats in the hair, tons of guano, vampires, the usual. What I got instead was an education. These bats? They eat 200,000 lbs of bugs a night. That's a lot of bugs that I'm happy to see gone from our steamy Texas environment. Also, they eat those bugs that are super pesky for farmers. Double win. Bats are NOT blind. They have great eyesight! Also, they dont get caught in your hair. They wouldn't get that close. Also, they dont turn into vampires. Thank god. That one seemed really viable... If someone offers you the opportunity to visit Bracken cave, run (dont walk.) It's an incredible piece of nature that will change the way you view bats forever. Note that this is a private spot so don't try to get in here without an invite. I know it sounds fanceeeeee but I just want to help you avoid driving around like a maniac. Go to Natural Bridge Caverns up the road for other bat watching goodness.

    Sara H.

    Oh man, I wish I could rate this as many stars as there were bats flying out of the cave. It is so fuckin' amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was trying to refrain from profanity, but holy shit... it is not possible because calling it "amazing" or "awesome"...even with the addition of the usual superlatives and endless exclamation points just doesn't cut it. Seriously, dudes, if you are ever in the San Antonio area and you don't make this a thing you experience in your life, you are basically batshit foolish.

    Jackie, the friendly turkey that hangs out with the group!
    Nancy W.

    WOW!!! That's about it. Couldn't have picked a better evening to head out for some bat watching! Those cooler-as-the-sun-sets days arrived in Satx, and that made for a truly amazing bat flight. As the first couple of lone bats emerged from the cave, only to be grabbed by red tail hawks waiting nearby, I thought maybe this was a mistake....but, this particular area is pretty much a nature reserve, so things are tough for those little bat creatures! There are about 20 million in this colony, minus two after the slaughter! Then things really started happening in the bat cave, and we were treated to an exodus of little Mexican Freetail bats for about two hours til we couldn't see them....but even still, they would be exiting for another couple of hours! I have to say it was a near spiritual experience watching and listening while surrounded by a beautiful sunset and temps in the low 70s. Note: you need reservations...go online to Braken Bat Cave, Bat Conservation International. This place is just north of Satx... short drive to an incredible site!

    Bat emergence, May 2012
    Cristina L.

    This is one of the most fantastic experiences ever...being able to see millions of bats emerge from the Bracken Bat Cave! -This is the largest collection of mammals in the world. It took a while to find how we could see this. The Bracken Bat Cave and the property itself is owned by Bat Conservation International. We became members and purchased tickets to view the bat flight through their website. I think you may also be able to purchase tickets at Natural Bridge Caverns. Either way, to meet up to view the flight, this is at Natural Bridge Caverns. Bring insect repellant and a good camera without a flash. This truly is a worth seeing.

    Waiting for the rest of the group to head out & hopefully see a nice big cloud of bats. #Texas #Bats #BatConservationInternational

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    Ask the Community - Bracken Bat Cave

    When is the best time to visit the bay conservation?

    In late summer.

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    Review Highlights - Bracken Bat Cave

    The Bracken Bat Cave and the property itself is owned by Bat Conservation International.

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    Natural Bridge Caverns - A Gift Shop

    Natural Bridge Caverns

    4.4(771 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$$

    Very pleasantly surprised with how amazingly beautiful this cave was! We just nonchalantly booked a…read moretour here to do something for the day. Turns out, we absolutely loved it. Our tour guide, Michael, was super friendly, ensured our safety, made sure our girls had a good time (along with everyone else), and kept our tour engaged with hilarious humor! Price was good, staff was friendly, service was great, tour was as a good hike (should've worn shorts), and we had a wonderful time. Bring the family! You'll have a wonderful time. Tips: 1. Wear shorts and be ready to walk up and down, so wear those tennis shoes with decent grips. Gets a bit wet at times. 2. Don't follow Google maps that may lead you to their service road. Keep driving up the road and look out for their obvious signs towards their parking lot.

    Visited Natural Bridge Caverns and did the Discovery Tour. It was an impressive experience from…read morestart to finish. The caverns are massive and well lit, making it easy to see all the formations without feeling rushed. The tour guide was knowledgeable and explained the history and geology in a way that was interesting and easy to follow. Walking through the chambers really gives you a sense of how big and detailed everything is The paths were well maintained and the pace of the tour was comfortable. It felt organized but still relaxed enough to take it all in. A great stop if you are visiting the area and want something memorable and different from the usual attractions.

    Photos
    Natural Bridge Caverns - Popcorn  and Hatorade.

    Popcorn and Hatorade.

    Natural Bridge Caverns - The flash  was bright.

    The flash was bright.

    Natural Bridge Caverns - Inside the cave

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    Inside the cave

    Axe Escape Axe Throwing  - Immerse yourself in the thrill of axe throwing at Axe Escape San Antonio - the ultimate hangout spot in San Antonio, TX!

    Axe Escape Axe Throwing

    4.7(13 reviews)
    8.9 mi

    Groupon experience. Axe throwing with different weapons and lots of game options! Staff showed us…read morehow to select the games and how to handle all the weapons - pretty simple. We had an allocated time of one hour which went by fast from all the fun! Fun experience for date nights, family nights, or a small group of friends! Came here with no experience and left as an expert! Lol There is a VR experience here as well for those who like that. If you drink, they have a large selection of beer taps! We decided to try to the Boozy Scoop Ice Cream Bar - scoop of blueberry cream with a shot of Crown Royal Blackberry - DELICIOUS! This location is in a plaza so there's shared parking.

    First timers over the weekend to celebrate my dad's birthday! We had a great time, something…read moredifferent and fun for all ages (my youngest brother is 12 but was able to get a parents waiver). I think we enjoyed being our own beer tappers for the part of the day Lots of different games & Axes to throw, instructions were very clear & making sure everyone stays safe. Thanks for the fun, can't wait to be back to throw

    Photos
    Axe Escape Axe Throwing  - Indulge in our selection of 15 beers on tap and refreshing margaritas on tap, adding a perfect touch to your axe-throwing escapade.

    Indulge in our selection of 15 beers on tap and refreshing margaritas on tap, adding a perfect touch to your axe-throwing escapade.

    Axe Escape Axe Throwing  - Indulge in our selection of 15 beers on tap and refreshing margaritas on tap, adding a perfect touch to your axe-throwing escapade.

    Indulge in our selection of 15 beers on tap and refreshing margaritas on tap, adding a perfect touch to your axe-throwing escapade.

    Axe Escape Axe Throwing  - Immerse yourself in the thrill of axe throwing at Axe Escape San Antonio - the ultimate hangout spot in San Antonio, TX!

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    Immerse yourself in the thrill of axe throwing at Axe Escape San Antonio - the ultimate hangout spot in San Antonio, TX!

    Gypsy Farms

    Gypsy Farms

    5.0(1 review)
    4.7 mi

    What a wonderful experience with Sara at Gypsy Farms!! We were ending a two week trip around the…read moreregion and all our six year old son wanted to do on this trip was "ride a horse like a cowboy!" We were striking out everywhere we called either due to the heavy rains leading up to our arrival or just lack of availability. I found Gypsy Farms on Yelp, read the one outstanding review and took a chance. Sara emailed me back the same day and despite the short notice, she fit us in our last night in San Antonio and was extremely responsive in our email exchange. And what an awesome experience for our son! She spent a full hour one-on-one with him - teaching him how to brush, bridle and saddle the horse; then getting him into the ring to ride for a solid 25 minutes learning how to control the horse's movements. She even got him comfortable enough to go off the lead and control the horse on his own and to walk the horse through the obstacle course. All in all, we were absolutely thrilled! Sara was not only extremely professional, but super friendly and interested in helping our son enjoy his first real horse riding experience. Plus, it's clear that her horses are well loved and cared for. And she's even rescued 12 horses since living in Texas the last 4 years. Needless to say, he's hooked now! Thanks again, Sara!!

    From the owner: We are a small farmette that offers private western and english horseback riding lessons for…read morebeginner and intermediate riders. This is not a show farm, but a place to learn about equine behavior, care, training and riding. We specialize in helping new riders and horse owners become familiar with, and understand how to communicate effectively with horses. Lessons can be with your horse or mine, and I can come to you.

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    Gypsy Farms
    Gypsy Farms
    Gypsy Farms

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    Unbridled Spirit - My first ever ride bareback!

    Unbridled Spirit

    5.0(5 reviews)
    6.8 mi

    If you in are search of finding an actual "horse whisperer," from which to learn, grow and gain…read moreconfidence, you will find her at "Unbridled Spirit" in Stephanie McGlothlin. I came to Unbridled Spirit originally, because they offer learning on many different types of horses and I love "gaited" horses, which are seldom offered for lessons. With Stephanie McGlothlin as my instructor, I actually learned not just to be a more confident and competent rider, but how to actually "build a relationship" with my horse! What an incredible joy it is to build that bond! The confidence and skills that I have gained in a short time have taken place through lessons, but also, through the targeted clinics and workshops that focus on certain skills and approaches, such as "Liberty." I cannot recommend Stephanie and Unbridled Spirit more highly!

    I flew in from California to attend one of her weekend workshops. What Stephanie offers is…read moresomething so unique and amazing. She takes time to explain everything even if you didn't understand the first or second time. Her passion for horseback riding is contagious. She offers tools to learn and implement when working with your horse rather than bandaids for crazy horse behavior. Her horses are patient and kind and I can't wait to bring back my whole family. I could keep going but don't take it from me. Go and see for yourself what you are lacking in your horse connection! You'll be glad you did.

    Photos
    Unbridled Spirit - What a great confidence builder!

    What a great confidence builder!

    Unbridled Spirit - It's not just a ride, it's a relationship!

    It's not just a ride, it's a relationship!

    Unbridled Spirit

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    Bracken Bat Cave - localflavor - Updated May 2026

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